Interior Japan
Oct 2024

$3,725.00$4,750.00

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Interior Japan
Oct 2024

BOOK NOW
Tochigi, Nagano, & the Nakasendo Samurai Trail
October 10th - 19th, 2024
From $3875 Per Person

Explore the rugged, mountainous interior of Japan on our 9 day pickleball adventure!

Visitors are often surprised to learn that mountains occupy over 70% of Japan’s total landmass. Nagano in particular, which is the focal point of our tour, is world famous for its rugged terrain. Set foot where few travelers outside Japan venture to take in stunning landscapes, visit age-old shrines, witness hot-spring-loving monkeys, and sample regional gastronomy.

Pickleball Trips was born in Japan out of our threefold passion for travel, relationships, and pickleball. This true, insider experience perfectly balances hours of quality pickleball instruction with local play. Come see for yourself why everyone who travels with us keeps coming back!

Hrs. of Instruction: 9+
Hrs. of Social Play: 10 ~ 12
MAX. GROUP SIZE: 16
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL: 6/10
REMAINING SPOTS: 10
Daniel Moore

Daniel Moore

Naoya Nishimura

Naoya Nishimura

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • 9 nights at standard accommodations
  • All meals excluding 2 dinners and 1 lunch
  • All activities including, tours, entrance fees, pickleball clinics, and domestic transportation via private mini-bus within Japan

EXTRAS

  • Airfare to/from Haneda Int’l Airport (HND) or Narita Int’l Airport (NRT)
  • Airport transportation
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Travel insurance, medical coverage, etc.

ACCOMMODATIONS

HOTEL NIKKO NARITA

  • Just 10 minutes from Narita International Airport on the free 2-way shuttle, Hotel Nikko Narita features a seasonal outdoor pool, a 24-hour convenience store and 4 dining options. All rooms come with free WiFi. The air-conditioned rooms at the Nikko Narita feature relaxing colors and light wood furnishings, including a desk. A quadruple room is available for family stays. Guestrooms are fitted with a satellite TV, a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea. The private bathroom comes with a shower, bathtub and toiletries. Guests can relax with a massage in their room, and the front desk offers currency exchange, dry cleaning and luggage storage.

OMARUYAMA HOTEL

  • Relax in the free flowing hot springs at this property in Kitsuregawa Onsen, said to be one of the three most beautiful hot springs in Japan. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities at the nearby golfing range, and get work done in the property’s working space. Omaruyama is a local property where guests can enjoy a getaway on a whim. The property is newly fitted with a highly popular outdoor hot spring bath and sauna, which delivers natural hot spring water from one of Japan’s most beautiful hot springs, Kitsuregawa Onsen. The property’s chef will prepare a delicious meal featuring some of Tochigi’s specialty ingredients and gourmet for lunch or dinner.

HOTEL KARUIZAWA CROSS

  • CROSS is housed in a former commercial building, renovated for our purposes, resulting in a new space born from the past. While it is difficult to convert retail into accommodations, the modern space is filled with stories resonating uniqueness from each room. Additionally, Karuizawa is a beautiful town made famous by Tatsuo Hori’s classic novel. Surrounded by lush nature at an elevation of over 3000 ft, it is often referred to as a “hospital without a roof” because of the area’s rejuvenating properties, long serving as a summer resort and villa destination. Come and develop your lifelong affinity for Karuizawa.

SAKAEYA RYOKAN

  • Do you worry about lots of things when you travel in a country with a totally different culture? The language, the food, the accessibility, the hospitality…? Let us introduce you to our warm and welcoming Inn. We are located near the Jikokudani Yaenkoen (Snow Monkey Park), with a bus stop only two minutes walking distance from the hotel. And we are only a five minute drive from the train station! We also have menus and brochures in English available. We only serve the finest food from the Shinshu area, and we will welcome you warmly and do our best to make your stay a memorable one!

MATSUMOTO KAGETSU

  • A Western-Style Building Filled with Traditional Matsumoto Folk Craft: Experience Mingei. This traditional folk craft borrows from the local climate and traditions to develop naturally as part of the region’s culture. In Matsumoto, countless works with no artist attribution were developed throughout the course of history. Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu is a 130 year-old hotel where the spirit of folk craft lives on today. Relax in a place where you can be yourself, that makes you feel right at home.
Day Activity
Day 1

ARRIVAL IN JAPAN

  • Please book your airfare to/from Haneda Int’l Airport (HND) or Narita Int’l Airport (NRT)*
  • Meet the group in the Hotel Nikko Narita lobby
  • Welcome dinner at local restaurant

*Due to the time difference, travelers from North America will likely need to depart the previous day to arrive on the designated start date. 

Day 2

NARITA ~ TOCHIGI | PICKLEBALL CLINIC

  • Western breakfast at accommodation
  • Travel to Sakura City (~2:30 hrs) in our private mini-bus
  • ‘Bento’ lunch at pickleball courts
  • Private Pickleball Trips clinic with our professional instructors
  • Check into Omaruyama Hotel
  • Local specialty ‘gyoza’ (potsticker) dinner with group
Day 3

TOCHIGI PICKLEBALL

  • Japanese breakfast at accommodation
  • All-day recreational pickleball event hosted by local players, with lunch delivered to the courts
  • Dinner with Pickleball Trips group
Day 4

TOCHIGI ~ KARUIZAWA | PICKLEBALL CLINIC

  • Japanese breakfast at accommodation
  • Private Pickleball Trips clinic with our professional instructors
  • ‘Bento’ lunch at pickleball courts
  • Check out from hotel and travel to Karuizawa via private minibus (~1:45 hrs) and check into Hotel Karuizawa Cross
  • Free evening for exploration and dinner on your own
Day 5

KARUIZAWA PICKLEBALL

  • Western breakfast at accommodation
  • Free morning in Karuizawa for shopping, hiking, or recreational pickleball, with lunch on your own
  • Afternoon rec play with local club
  • Dinner with Pickleball Trips group
Day 6

KARUIZAWA ~ SHIBU ONSEN | PICKLEBALL

  • Western breakfast at accommodation
  • Check out from hotel and travel to Nagano City’s famous Zenkōji Temple (~1:30 hrs) via private minibus
  • Lunch at historic Italian-Japanese restaurant
  • Check into Sakaeya Ryokan
  • Afternoon rec play with local club
  • ‘Kaiseki’-style traditional dinner banquet at accommodation
Day 7

SNOW MONKEYS | SOBA & WASHI-PAPER MAKING

  • Japanese breakfast at accommodation
  • Walk through a beautiful forest to the world-famous Snow Monkey Park (~0:30 hrs each way)
  • Soba-noodle making (and eating!) experience
  • Learn how to make traditional Japanese Washi-paper
  • Dinner with Pickleball Trips group
Day 8

SHIBU ONSEN ~ MATSUMOTO | PICKLEBALL CLINIC

  • Japanese breakfast at accommodation
  • Morning private Pickleball Trips clinic with our professional instructors
  • ‘Shokudo’-style lunch with group restaurant
  • Travel to Matsumoto via private minibus (~1:30 hrs) and check into Matsumoto Kagetsu
  • Free evening for exploration and dinner on your own
Day 9

NAKASENDO SAMURAI TRAIL

  • Western breakfast at accommodation
  • Visit Matsumoto Castle
  • Travel to Narai post town on the historic Nakasendo route (~1:00 hrs)
  • Explore the town or hike Torī Pass
  • Picnic lunch along the way
  • Return to Matsumoto (~1:00 hrs) for group farewell dinner
Day 10

DEPARTURE

  • Western breakfast at accommodation
  • Departure from Haneda Int’l Airport (HND) / Narita Int’l Airport (NRT)
CANCELLATION REFUND AMOUNT
91+ Days Prior to Start Date Full Refund Minus 20% Nonrefundable Deposit*
61 ~ 90 Days Prior to Start Date 50% Refund of Total Trip Cost
31 ~ 60 Days Prior to Start Date 25% Refund of Total Trip Cost
0 ~ 30 Days Prior to Start Date None (20% Deposit Transferable)

We strongly encourage all travelers to invest in travel insurance to both minimize your financial risks of traveling and provide you with peace of mind to fully enjoy the your trip. Travel insurance can provide many helpful resources including refunds or assistance for any of the following situations that may arise before or during a trip:

  • You need to cancel your participation on the tour
  • You need to cancel or change a flight
  • Lost baggage during the trip
  • Stolen items during the trip
  • Medical costs during the trip

We suggest you talk to your insurance provider to ask about the travel insurance plans available to you. You can also compare policies online. Here are two well-known travel insurance providers to consider:

Travelex Travel Insurance
Travel Guard

You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.

What Our Attendees Say:

“If you want a first class trip that also includes pickleball… take a trip with them… .you won’t be sorry… you WILL have a ton of fun!”

LynetteRhine Wine & Dine

“We had so much fun on Pickleball Trips’ awesome tour of Italy. Pickleball and exploring with guides was amazing. Planning on another one soon!”

SharonTaste of Italy

“The trips I’ve been on… Japan and The Netherlands… were amazing! Top notch accommodations, amazing food, super coaching and the staff are so kind and caring.”

JacqueAutumn in Japan, Dinking Dutch, The Rugged & The Royal